WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced more than $5.8 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) grants to fund repairs, upgrades and more at airports across Oregon.

“These grants provide much-needed support to rural airports across the state,” said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “That is why I fought to adequately fund transportation, and I will continue to push for the infrastructure funding our communities deserve to connect to economic opportunity, health care services, and more.” “Quality of life for rural Oregonians includes infrastructure investments in airports so they are safe and dependable,” Wyden said. “Transportation resources like these grants play a big part in achieving that security and reliability for Oregonians living and working in and around Hillsboro, Madras, Baker City, Bandon and Roseburg.” The USDOT Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of airports. The grants provide important funding for safety improvements and replacing outdated equipment, as well as for elements of ongoing projects.   “The City of Roseburg greatly appreciates the support we continue to receive from our Federal partners in Congress as well as through the Federal Aviation Administration,” said Lance Colley, city manager of Roseburg. “This $200,000 grant will allow us to complete an obstruction removal project that should allow us to resume night time operations at the Roseburg Regional Airport.   This is a very high priority project for our airport and more significantly the aviation community.” “This vital funding will allow us to conduct the first important step in improving our main runway and the safety area at the end of the runway at Hillsboro Airport,” said Steve Nagy, Port of Portland general aviation senior manager. “This will support the FAA’s Environmental Assessment to examine alternative approaches to address the improvements. The project will help maintain Hillsboro Airport as an integral part of the region’s transportation system, providing general aviation facilities to businesses and residents of Washington County and beyond.”